Brisbane pop group The Veronicas are made up of two identical twin sisters named Lisa and Jessica Origliasso. Their debut album The Secret Life of… took over the Australian album charts with three top 10 singles. The second album brought them their first number one single in their homeland with the title track "Hook Me Up."
They have coached on The Voice Australia, launched a fashion line and toured with 5 Seconds of Summer. The two have an upcoming reality show with the working title Jess & Lisa: The Veronicas on MTV Australia.
The Veronicas were just announced to perform at LA Pride this year and will be heading to Chicago for the Back Lot Bash women's party in Andersonville.
The duo called all the way from Australia and prefer that they are written as The Veronicas because their voices are so similar.
Windy City Times: Did the two of you sing around the house growing up?
The Veronicas: We started singing at a very early age and come from a musical family. By the time we were five, we were singing and dancing.
WCT: When did you first become a band together?
The Veronicas: We started when we were 17. We got a publishing deal from a guy here in Australia. That was the first time being noticed by someone in the industry.
We were writing songs and performing our entire lives together, but that was the defining moment of this being a career that we could do together.
WCT: Did you parents make you dress alike as kids?
The Veronicas: Yes, but different colors [laughs]!
WCT: Did you feel you had to be different people after that? How is your relationship been?
The Veronicas: We have had a career of 15 years and it can get overwhelming at times. It can be fulfilling and special, too. To have your best friend there for all the experiences has been incredible.
We are sisters, but also creative collaborators. It's an interesting dynamic!
WCT: Have you spent much time in Chicago?
The Veronicas: I love Chicago. We have toured through there a couple of times. It's a wonderful city
WCT: Are you playing other Pride events?
The Veronicas: We are doing three other Pride festivals. This is our first Chicago Pride event. We are very excited and can't wait.
WCT: Are you bringing a band with you to Chicago?
The Veronicas: It is just us. We are driving to New York straight after the show. All of the shows will be really special. It has been over five years since we have been doing live music. We don't have a band to fly out specifically to Chicago since we are leaving right after.
WCT: Have The Veronicas watched the TV show Riverdale?
The Veronicas: I have seen a couple of episodes. It is based off of the Archie comics and we have that in common because our band name The Veronicas was inspired by the comics we read growing up. There was a movie called Heathers where we decided on the name from the character named Veronica.
WCT: What inspired the new song "Think of Me?"
The Veronicas: "Think of Me" was the second song we wrote for our album that's coming out later this year. There were a few things I was going through personally, so we were all pulling out our heartbreak stories. It was really vulnerable from a storytelling perspective.
WCT: The video is very classy then there are some very adult lyrics. Were you cautious about that?
The Veronicas: The song is quite literal so we wanted to make the video very different. There is an underlying feeling of learning to be by yourself again and loving yourself. There is a beauty to that. That's why we made a very beautiful video.
WCT: How is your new reality show on MTV Australia going?
The Veronicas: We are in the middle of it actually. It's been incredible, but really insane! We have had cameras on us since we were really young. For us, it is quite normal. It's bringing people into a closer look of what it's like to be in this family.
WCT: Do the cameras follow you everywhere? Can you go to the bathroom without cameras?
The Veronicas: The come in when we are peeing [laughs]! They don't. I'm kidding.
WCT: When does the reality show come out?
The Veronicas: Later this year.
WCT: Have you met the twin singers Tegan and Sara?
The Veronicas: We were on the same label as Tegan and Sara. I don't think we have actually met. I feel we know them so well, because we worked with the same team. I love their music. They are so cool!
WCT: You have been very outspoken about gay marriage in Australia. How has the fight been over the years?
The Veronicas: We have been attending marriage equality rallies for over 10 years in Australia. The fact that it recently passed at the end of 2017 was powerful and inspiring. The majority of Australian's voices were finally heard. For that to be passed by the government was way overdue.
We feel very embraced by the LGBT community and always have been from the very beginning. It's hard to describe how it feels to have so many LGBT youth growing up with us and our music. I, myself, am a part of the community. We will always support it and Lisa is an ally. We will use our voices to bring any attention to issues that are political or need legislation to be passed.
WCT: How do you identify?
Jessica Origliasso: I don't even have a label for it. I would say pansexual. That is the one that makes the most sense to me.
Lisa Origliasso: I am married to my husband Logan Huffman.
WCT: What is one thing that would surprise people about The Veronicas?
The Veronicas: We are actually quiet people on our off time. We are very extraverted onstage and in our career lives. When we have downtime we like to hang out in nature and just chill. We like to have barbecues and relax. There's quite a duality in life that way!
Dance with the Veronicas at 5238 N. Clark St. on Saturday, June 29 with doors opening at 5 p.m. Tickets can be found at BackLotBashChicago.com .
